Play Book Tag discussion

The story of The Nutcracker has captured my imagination since first seeing the ballet performed as a young child. You can imagine my immense delight at discovering there existed, in the form of The Enchanted Sonata by Heather Dixon Wallwork , a book perfect for the June tag!

My synopsis will be brief as to say more would be spoiling the discovery of all the elements of the story. On the eve of giving the most important piano concert of her life Clara receives a mysterious gift of a nutcracker and book entitled “Clara and the Nutcracker Prince.” Intrigued, Clara begins reading the book and soon finds herself whisked in to the world of Imperia where candy from the emporium can brighten any day, citizens must be on their guard from Volnakrii attacks from giant rats and where sleeping children have been lulled from their beds by the music from a flute and turned in to toys. Clara and Nutcracker cross paths in the forest when he rescues her from being devoured by rats and they enter in to a race against time to unravel the spells and turn the children and soldiers (who are now nutcrackers) back to humans before the city is overrun by rats.

There were so many elements to this story that had me enthralled including the lyrical and evocative prose that captured the theme of the power of music and the beautiful setting. The way the author interweaves the story of the Pied Piper with The Nutcracker ballet is brilliant and a fresh take on both. The rats are also used not just as characters in the book but as a metaphor for how thoughts and feelings can gnaw away at us and if not kept in check can be turned towards evil. Finally, not only does the reader get a fully fleshed out villain, but the book also includes two complete chapters devoted to their back-story which is a detail often overlooked in most fairy tales.

If you are drawn to fairy tales, The Nutcracker Ballet and retellings give this book a try. If you do I hope you love it as much as I did!

Call me entranced! What an enticing review! I will give it a shot.